The Role of E-Health Literacy and Trust in the Adoption Intention of ChatGPT-Generated Health Information

Sema Dalkılıç

doi:10.31067/acusaglik.1884686

The Role of E-Health Literacy and Trust in the Adoption Intention of ChatGPT-Generated Health Information

Abstract

Purpose:This study aimed to examine the effect of individuals’ e-health literacy levels on their intention to adopt health information generated by ChatGPT and to evaluate the mediating role of trust in ChatGPT-generated health information in this relationship. Methods:This descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted with adults aged 18 years and older living in Yozgat, Turkey. Data were collected through face-to-face surveys using a demographic information form, the E-Health Literacy Scale, a trust in ChatGPT-generated health information scale, and a single-item measure assessing adoption intention. A total of 445 participants were included in the analyses. Descriptive statistics, Pearson correlation analysis, and mediation analysis using PROCESS Macro Model 4 were performed. Results:Significant and positive relationships were identified between e-health literacy, trust in ChatGPT-generated health information, and adoption intention. Trust in ChatGPT-generated health information had a strong effect on adoption intention and was found to partially mediate the relationship between e-health literacy and adoption intention. Conclusion:The findings indicate that while e-health literacy plays an important role in the adoption of AI-generated health information, trust is a key determinant in this process. This study provides important implications for digital health policies and the management of AI-based health information systems.

Keywords

Supporting Institution

No

Ethical Statement

This study was approved by the Yozgat Bozok University Social and Humanities Ethics Committee (Decision No. 30/55, dated 19.11.2025).

Thanks

I would like to thank all participants for their valuable contributions to this study

References

1. Zhao, Y. C., Zhao, M., & Song, S. Online health information seeking behaviors among older adults: systematic scoping review. Journal of medical internet research, (2022); 24(2), e34790. doi:10.2196/34790
2. Alanezi F. Factors influencing patients’ engagement with ChatGPT for accessing health-related information. Crit Public Health. 2024;34(1):1–20 https://doi.org/10.1080/09581596.2024.2348164
3. Chen SY, Kuo HY, Chang SH. Perceptions of ChatGPT in healthcare: usefulness, trust, and risk. Front Public Health. 2024;12:1457131. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpubh.2024.1457131
4. Sun X, Ma R, Zhao X, Li Z, Lindqvist J, Ali AE, Bosch JA. Trusting the search: unraveling human trust in health information from Google and ChatGPT. arXiv. 2024;arXiv:2403.09987. https://doi. org/10.48550/arXiv.2403.09987
5. Coşkun AB, Elmaoğlu E, Buran C, Yüzer Alsaç S. Integration of ChatGPT and e-health literacy: opportunities, challenges, and a look towards the future. J Health Rep Technol. 2024;10(1):e139748. https://doi.org/10.5812/jhrt-139748.
6. Ayoub NF, Lee YJ, Grimm D, Divi V. Head-to-head comparison of ChatGPT versus Google search for medical knowledge acquisition. Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 2024;170(6):1484–1491. https://doi. org/10.1002/ohn.465
7. Loughran E, Kane M, Wyatt TH, Kerley A, Lowe S, Li X. Using large language models to address health literacy in mHealth: case report. Comput Inform Nurs. 2024;42(10):696–703. DOI: 10.1097/ CIN.0000000000001152
8. Shahsavar Y, Choudhury A. User intentions to use ChatGPT for selfdiagnosis and health-related purposes: cross-sectional survey study. JMIR Hum Factors. 2023;10(1):e47564. doi:10.2196/47564

9. Norman CD, Skinner HA. eHealth literacy: essential skills for consumer health in a networked world. J Med Internet Res. 2006;8(2):e9. doi:10.2196/jmir.8.2.e9
10. Peres F. Health literacy in ChatGPT: exploring the potential of the use of artificial intelligence to produce academic text. Cien Saude Colet. 2023;29:e02412023. https://doi. org/10.1590/1413-81232024291.02412023EN
11. Alam Z, Abdullahi AS, Alnuaimi SNS, Al Shaka H, Alderei SSS, Alhemeiri AAA, Rahma AT. eHealth literacy and attitudes towards use of artificial intelligence among university students in the United Arab Emirates: a cross-sectional study. Front Digit Health. 2025;7:1574263. https://doi.org/10.3389/fdgth.2025.1574263
12. Svestkova A, Huang Y, Smahel D. Factors that influence trust and willingness to use generative AI for health information: a crosssectional study. Digit Health. 2025;11:20552076251360973. https:// doi.org/10.1177/20552076251360973
13. Chow JC, Li K. Large language models in medical chatbots: opportunities, challenges, and the need to address AI risks. Information. 2025;16(7):549. https://doi.org/10.3390/info16070549
14. Traylor DO, Kern KV, Anderson EE, Henderson R. Beyond the screen: the impact of generative artificial intelligence on patient learning and the patient–physician relationship. Cureus. 2025;17(1):e55712. DOI: 10.7759/cureus.76825
15. Song M, Elson J, Haas C, Obasi SN, Sun X, Bastola D. The effects of patients’ health information behaviors on shared decision-making: evaluating the role of patients’ trust in physicians. Healthcare (Basel). 2025;13(11):1238. https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare13111238
16. Esmaeilzadeh P, Mirzaei T, Dharanikota S. Patients’ perceptions toward human–artificial intelligence interaction in health care: experimental study. J Med Internet Res. 2021;23(11):e25856. doi:10.2196/25856
17. Davis, F. D. (1989). Perceived usefulness, perceived ease of use, and user acceptance of information technology. MIS Quarterly, 13(3), 319–340. https://doi.org/10.2307/249008
18. Venkatesh, V., Morris, M. G., Davis, G. B., & Davis, F. D. (2003). User acceptance of information technology: Toward a unified view. MIS Quarterly, 27(3), 425–478. https://doi.org/10.2307/30036540
19. Guo S, Song Y, Chen G, Han H, Wu H, Ma J. Promoting trust and intention to adopt health information generated by ChatGPT among healthcare customers: an empirical study. Digit Health. 2025;11:20552076251374121. https://doi. org/10.1177/20552076251374121
20. Coşkun S, Bebiş H. E-health literacy scale in adolescents: Turkish validity and reliability study. Gulhane Med J. 2015;57:378–384. DOI: 10.5455/gulhane.157832
21. Bergkvist L, Rossiter JR. The predictive validity of multiple-item versus single-item measures of the same constructs. J Mark Res. 2007;44(2):175–184. https://doi.org/10.1509/jmkr.44.2.175
22. Tabachnick BG, Fidell LS. Using Multivariate Statistics. 6th ed. Boston: Pearson; 2013.
23. Jin JQ, Dobry AS. ChatGPT for healthcare providers and patients: practical implications within dermatology. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2023;89(4):870–871. https://doi.org/10.17632/dgrfs639f8.1
24. Kacperski C, Ulloa R, Bonnay D, Kulshrestha J, Selb P, Spitz A. Characteristics of ChatGPT users from Germany: implications for the digital divide from web tracking data. PLoS One. 2025;20(1):e0309047. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0309047
25. Mukunya D, Nantale R, Kayemba F, Ajalo E, Pangholi K, Babuya J, Kiguli S. Utilisation of ChatGPT and other artificial intelligence tools among medical faculty in Uganda: a cross-sectional study. MedEdPublish. 2025;14:245. Doi: 10.12688/mep.20554.3
26. Tao W, Yang J, Qu X. Utilization of, perceptions on, and intention to use AI chatbots among medical students in China: national cross-sectional study. JMIR Med Educ. 2024;10(1):e57132. doi:10.2196/57132
27. Nov O, Singh N, Mann D. Putting ChatGPT’s medical advice to the (Turing) test: survey study. JMIR Med Educ. 2023;9:e46939. doi:10.2196/46939
28. Mudenda S, Mufwambi W, Mwale RS, Kathewera B, Lubanga AF. Attitudes and usage of ChatGPT among pharmacy students in a Sub-Saharan African country, Zambia: findings and implications on the education system. BMC Med Educ. 2025;25(1):1237. https://doi. org/10.1186/s12909-025-07833-0
29. World Health Organization. Ethics and governance of artificial intelligence for health. Geneva: World Health Organization; 2021. Available from: https://www.who.int/publications/i/ item/9789240029200
30. Allen MS, Iliescu D, Greiff S. Single-item measures in psychological science. Eur J Psychol Assess. 2022;38(5):331–339. https://doi. org/10.1027/1015-5759/a000699

Details

Primary Language

English

Subjects

Dermatology, Health Policy, Health Care Administration

Journal Section

Research Article

Authors

Sema Dalkılıç ^*
0000-0002-0620-6195
Türkiye

Publication Date

March 26, 2026

Submission Date

February 10, 2026

Acceptance Date

February 26, 2026

Published in Issue

Year 2026 Volume: 17 Number: January, February, March 2026

DOI

https://doi.org/10.31067/acusaglik.1884686

IZ

https://izlik.org/JA76WN53MP

Cite

RIS / Bibtex

APA

Dalkılıç, S. (2026). The Role of E-Health Literacy and Trust in the Adoption Intention of ChatGPT-Generated Health Information. Acıbadem Üniversitesi Sağlık Bilimleri Dergisi, 17(January, February, March 2026). https://doi.org/10.31067/acusaglik.1884686

AMA

1.Dalkılıç S. The Role of E-Health Literacy and Trust in the Adoption Intention of ChatGPT-Generated Health Information. Acibadem Univ Saglik Bilim Derg. 2026;17(January, February, March 2026). doi:10.31067/acusaglik.1884686

Chicago

Dalkılıç, Sema. 2026. “The Role of E-Health Literacy and Trust in the Adoption Intention of ChatGPT-Generated Health Information”. Acıbadem Üniversitesi Sağlık Bilimleri Dergisi 17 (January, February, March 2026). https://doi.org/10.31067/acusaglik.1884686.

EndNote

Dalkılıç S (March 1, 2026) The Role of E-Health Literacy and Trust in the Adoption Intention of ChatGPT-Generated Health Information. Acıbadem Üniversitesi Sağlık Bilimleri Dergisi 17 January, February, March 2026

IEEE

[1]S. Dalkılıç, “The Role of E-Health Literacy and Trust in the Adoption Intention of ChatGPT-Generated Health Information”, Acibadem Univ Saglik Bilim Derg, vol. 17, no. January, February, March 2026, Mar. 2026, doi: 10.31067/acusaglik.1884686.

ISNAD

Dalkılıç, Sema. “The Role of E-Health Literacy and Trust in the Adoption Intention of ChatGPT-Generated Health Information”. Acıbadem Üniversitesi Sağlık Bilimleri Dergisi 17/January, February, March 2026 (March 1, 2026). https://doi.org/10.31067/acusaglik.1884686.

JAMA

1.Dalkılıç S. The Role of E-Health Literacy and Trust in the Adoption Intention of ChatGPT-Generated Health Information. Acibadem Univ Saglik Bilim Derg. 2026;17. doi:10.31067/acusaglik.1884686.

MLA

Dalkılıç, Sema. “The Role of E-Health Literacy and Trust in the Adoption Intention of ChatGPT-Generated Health Information”. Acıbadem Üniversitesi Sağlık Bilimleri Dergisi, vol. 17, no. January, February, March 2026, Mar. 2026, doi:10.31067/acusaglik.1884686.

Vancouver

1.Sema Dalkılıç. The Role of E-Health Literacy and Trust in the Adoption Intention of ChatGPT-Generated Health Information. Acibadem Univ Saglik Bilim Derg. 2026 Mar. 1;17(January, February, March 2026). doi:10.31067/acusaglik.1884686